Linguist-Educator Exchange

Manifold Implications

But today I want to give a shout out to the employees of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, past and present, the directors and tutors and office staffers who have worked with me for nearly 20 years. Many have moved on — some got treated poorly first — and many are still there, still training and tutoring and rescuing kids and families, all free of charge or at a very low cost. Still hosting walkathons and spaghetti dinners and raffles to raise the funds to keep serving.

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On my first trip to study spelling in France in 2009, I was accompanied by 8 Dyslexia Center colleagues. When I first encountered the orthographic truth, it was with and because of two people: Marcia Henry, one of my CDC trainers, and another dear friend also trained through the CDC, whom I’d known since 2000 or 2001. Those are the people who introduced me to Peter Bowers, and who introduced Peter Bowers to the CDC and the IDA. Of the 16 of us who traveled to France last year, half were trained by and/or worked for at least one Children’s Dyslexia Center. Eight of my orders in the past two weeks have been from people with CDC ties. At any given time, any one of my LEXinars is likely to have CDC people in it, including my year-long offerings. The bulk of my international clientele is from the international work of Pete Bowers, whom I also met through my near and dear CDC contacts.

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If there is any single affiliation that has brought me a good, solid portion of my present day work, it’s the Children’s Dyslexia Centers. Period.

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I remain grateful for the CDC and its employees, past and present, for affording me the opportunity in countless ways to be of good service to others, perhaps especially people with dyslexia. You never tell me how to be, or how to do what I do. You know me, and you keep folding me in to your circles. You know who you are. I thank you for raising me up in so many ways.

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The words imply and employ are historically the same word, having diverged in French. They both derive from the Latin implicare, also the root of implicate. The Latin verb plicare is ancestor to a host of Present-Day English base elements. Go have a look.

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Once in a while, I find that folks within the Dyslexia Industry, but outside of Children’s Dyslexia Center circles, try to imply that they are responsible for giving me access to a Dyslexia Industry audience, that some considerable portion of my work comes from their selfless referral, and that they have the ability to put a stop to that if I say the wrong thing or otherwise misbehave.

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I’ve worked in literacy since 1993, started attending national IDA conferences in 1999, and started offering workshops and presenting for IDA in 2001, nearly two decades ago, long before I encountered Real Spelling or Structured Word Inquiry. I trained in an IMSLEC-accredited program under two AOGPE fellows, maintain my certification in good standing, and have offered accredited professional development hours through ALTA for years.

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Allow me to be explicit: No one is in any position to imply that they are my ticket to Dyslexialand. Dyslexia didn’t bring me anywhere; rather, people with dyslexia, their families, and those who participated in the same charitable endeavors as I have, through the CDCs — they have brought me not only work around the world, but understanding, companionship, and joy, and that’s why I continued my charitable work with the CDC long past my employment with them.

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The CDCs are still open, and still in need of funds to continue their good work. They train hundreds of teachers and serve more than 1000 children each year. If you’d like to be trained in Orton-Gillingham, see if there’s a Center in your area. Their free or low-cost training program is fully accredited by both IMSLEC and IDA. If you know a child who needs help, apply and get on a wait list. If you’d like to just make a donation, to keep this critical, charitable work alive, you can do so at this link. Make sure to specify the CDC or a specific CDC as the beneficiary of any donation.

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It’s not complicated.

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6 Responses

Thank you so much for that acknowledgment! (I hate replacing that <e> for no good reason.) Like everyone else, we are far from ideal in our efforts and outcomes, but we are trying. I (we) can never thank you enough for the enlightenment opportunities you offer. As one who was with you in France both trips, I am so deeply grateful for the life-changing experience of knowing you!✨🕊✨Sparkle on, mon amie! Sparkle on!

Thank you Gina, I have learned so much from you, both at the CDC, the LEX seminars, and conferences you have presented. I am always grateful to learn more from you. Looking forward to many more years of learning with you (now only if my schedule and bank account would allow more!)

Thank you, Megan! I still remember our first phone call. We both had babies. Now we both have high schoolers. It’s been a long relationship, and one I cherish. I appreciate all you do for kids and families and teachers grappling with dyslexia.